Enrichment Conservationists Volunteer For Warwickshire Wildlife Trust

As part of their Enrichment activities, a group of our U6th pupils has been volunteering for the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust on Friday afternoons.

The Trust describes volunteering as ‘a rewarding experience allowing you to develop skills and interests, to meet new people and, above all, to contribute to the conservation of some of Warwickshire's most valuable natural areas.'

Our pupils have certainly been developing new skills, including chopping down trees, clearing brambles and building a dead hedge, under the expert guidance of Mr Paul Cleaver (Head of Art).

The collage, expertly compiled by Mrs Cathy Scott-Burt (Head of Enrichment and Outreach Coordinator) shows our pupils coppicing trees at Claybrookes Marsh in Coventry, one of the most important areas for rare invertebrates in the county. Originally Claybrookes Marsh would have been grassland and a natural marsh, but for much of the 20th century it formed the railhead for Binley Colliery. As a result, a wide range of habitats have developed, from the relics of the original marsh to bare ground and dry grassland, therefore regular conservation work is necessary to maintain this variety.

We have a full programme of conservation work for the Trust planned through the year, giving our U6th some appreciated outdoor time on Fridays after a hard week of academic work, but also providing them with valuable volunteering experience for their UCAS applications!